List of rulers in Wales


This is a list of rulers in Wales during the Middle Ages, between the 5th and 16th centuries. The rulers were monarchs who ruled their respective realms, as well as those who briefly ruled the Principality of Wales. These former territories are now within the boundaries of modern-day Wales and the neighbouring Welsh Marches in England.
Before the Edwardian Conquest, completed in 1283, Wales consisted of several independent realms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth and Morgannwg. Boundary changes and the custom of dividing patrimonies between heirs meant that few princes ever came close to ruling the whole of Wales.
The names of those known to have ruled over one or more areas are listed below. Boundaries changed frequently. The only known native ruler of all of present-day Wales was Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, a Prince of Gwynedd who became King of Wales from 1055 to 1063. However, some Welsh princes sporadically claimed the medieval title of "Prince of Wales" between the 13th to 15th centuries. The title remains in use but is given to heirs apparent of English and British monarchs.

History of the medieval kingdoms in Wales

Wales during the medieval age was a land of kingdoms and dynasties. Petty kingdoms, such as Ceredigion and Gwent, were established some time after Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century. By the time of the Norman invasion of Wales in the 11th century, most of these realms were combined or incorporated into greater territories, thus making up the four major kingdoms of Wales. Those kingdoms were Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth, and Morgannwg. Unlike the others, Deheubarth was formed later by the merging of Ceredigion, Dyfed, and Ystrad Tywi. Some minor kingdoms stayed independent from the big four kingdoms, only to be taken over by the Anglo-Normans in the 13th century, such as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, Meirionnydd, and others. Of the major kingdoms, Powys' 13th-century division of Wenwynwyn and Fadog was one of the final surviving Welsh dynasties until after the Edwardian conquest of Wales. Later, Owain Glyndŵr became the final Welsh ruler from royalty in Wales; he emerged in Powys Fadog during the early 15th century as a Prince of Wales.

Welsh Kingdoms (400s–1000s)

Kings of Brycheiniog

Kings of Gwynedd

Kings of Ergyng

Kingdom of Ergyng, in Wales and on the border of what is now Herefordshire, England.
Regional Kingdom of Ewyas in Wales and Herefordshire, England.
Kings and Lords in the cantref of Gwynllwg, in Glamorgan.
The Kingdom of Morgannwg was formed by the merging of the two kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent. At times, the kingdoms were separate and independent.

Kings of Powys

The former petty Kingdom of Pengwern, today located in the Midlands, possibly around the Wrekin, England.

All of Wales

of Wales as a modern territory by 1055.
Kings and Princes of the Kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys.
King of an enlarged Gwynedd, including Ceredigion, Meirionnydd and Dyffryn Clwyd, making his realm North West and West Wales.
Kingdoms in the west and northwest of Wales.
North and Mid to Southwest Wales.
King of all of Wales, except for Morgannwg and Gwent.
Southeast of Wales.
South and Southeast of Wales.
The three royal houses of Wales' regions were first divided by Rhodri the Great in the 9th century. Of his children, two of King's sons began royal dynasties. Anarawd reigned in Gwynedd, and Cadell founded Deheubarth, then another son Merfyn reigned in Powys.

Aberffraw

Aberffraw Kings of Gwynedd

The Kingdom of Deheubarth was formed by the union of the Kingdoms of Ceredigion and Dyfed by Hywel Dda in 910.

Dinefwr Kings of Deheubarth

Mathrafal Princes of Powys

The Lords of Welsh areas once belonging to monarchies. They were ruled by the direct descendants and heirs of Kings in Wales from around the time of the Norman invasion of Wales, some of which lasted until after the conquest of Wales by Edward I, and in a few instances, Welsh baronies lasted later into the Principality of Wales.

Lords of Afan

Listed Lords of Nedd-Avan, dynasty of Glamorgan, Morgannwg.
The regional territories as a dynasty combined the territories of Arwystli and Cedewain. The area was later incorporated into Powys Wenwynwyn.
  • Trahaearn ap Caradog, King of Gwynedd
  • Meurig, Lord of Arwystli
  • Griffri
  • Llywarch
  • Owain
  • Ieuaf
  • Hywel o'r Brithdir
  • Robert
  • Maredudd
  • Owain

    Lords of Caerleon

The rulers of Gwynllwg and upper Gwent became the Lords of Caerleon.
Lordship of Ceredigion, from the House of Dinefwr, Deheubarth.
Mechain, Powys.
  • Owain Fychan of Mechain, son of Prince Madog ap Maerdudd from Powys
  • Owain Fychan
  • Llywelyn Fychan, Lord of Mechain
  • Gruffydd, Lord of Mechain
  • Maredudd, Lord of Mechain

    Lord of Menai

Lord of the Menai commote on Anglesey.
  • Llywarch ap Bran, Lord of Menai

    Lords of Merioneth

The vassal Lordship of Merioneth from Gwynedd, also Lords of Eifionydd and Ardudwy. Descendants of King Owain Gwynedd.
Descendants of Madog ap Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, Prince of Powys. Lordship c. 1118 until the final Lord in the 1500s, before the use of the surname Nanney for the family.
  • Madog, 1st Lord of Nannau ;
  • Cadwgan;
  • Madog;
  • Meurig, Lord of Nannau;
  • Ynyr Hen ;
  • Ynyr Fychan ;
  • Meurig Fychan;
  • Meurig Llwyd;
  • Hywel Sele, 9th Lord ;
  • Meurig Fychan;
  • Dafydd ap Meurig Fychan;
  • Hywel ap Dafydd ;
  • Gruffudd Wyn Nanney, 13th Lord.

    Lords of Oswestry

Lords of Oswestry, from Powys, prior to the Baronetcy of Cymmer-yn-Edeirnion.
Northern Powys, House of Mathrafal.
Southern Powys, House of Mathrafal. The lordship also had lands in Arwystli, Cyfeiliog, Mawddwy, and Caereinion.
The region of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, between the Rivers Wye and Severn, ruled by Lords. Associated with Brycheiniog and Buellt, they ruled the cantrefs of Maelienydd and Elfael.
The Lordship of Senghenydd was then a vassal of the Lordship of Glamorgan.
  • Ifor Bach, Lord of Senghenydd
  • Gruffudd, Lord of Senghenydd
  • Rhys, Lord of Senghendd
  • Gruffudd ap Rhys
  • Llywelyn Bren

    Lords of Tegeingl

Lordship of Coleshill, Prestatyn, and Rhuddlan, also considered Princes.
The late medieval territory of the Principality of Wales and the members of Welsh royalty who ruled that area or attempted to regain their dynastic inheritances during the Principality. They were titled or claimants as the Prince of Wales. The territory of the principality included the kingdoms of Gwynedd, Deheubarth, and Powys, and also the areas of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. There was the exception of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, who ruled most of the territory of the Principality and also Montgomeryshire, but not as a Prince of Wales; by 1230 he styled himself as the Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon.

Pre-Principality, 1165–1197